Grade The Wizards Off-Season

[Ed Wood]

I can't bring myself to come to the defense of ESPN but John Hollinger is generally right more often than the frequency with which he is derided would suggest, though dismissing the Wizards is a bit of a motif in his work (not without justification).

[rockymac52]

I can't bring myself to come to the defense of ESPN but John Hollinger is generally right more often than the frequency with which he is derided would suggest, though dismissing the Wizards is a bit of a motif in his work (not without justification).

Couldn't agree more. I love his work most of the time. Then of course he's down on the Wizards, which the homer in me never wants to hear. And the sad part is that for the last several years, he's been right at the end of the day. But it does genuinely seem like he has it out for EG. Or maybe he's right once again, and EG is in fact, terrible. I don't buy into his analysis of our failures though, I think we can be better than he gives us credit for. And I also think EG has been a LOT better than Hollinger gives him credit for.

[closg00]

That's just Hollinger. He never has anything good to say about the Wizards, or anyone on our team. And he seems to be Ernie[img][img][/img][/img] Grunfeld's number 1 hater. He manages to tear about EG in every article he writes that so much as mentions the Wizards.

Wrong, Ford and Hollinger wrote the analysis. The rankings are actually based upon a lot of factors.
The analysis is spot-on and fair. Give a couple of reasons why we should be rated any higher.

[TGW]

That's funny...if the article stated the opposite, the same people attacking it would be the same people using the clapping smilie and proclaiming success if it were the other way around.

[LyricalRico]

That's funny...if the article stated the opposite, the same people attacking it would be the same people using the clapping smilie and proclaiming success if it were the other way around.

Of course, that's how message boards work.

[DCZards]

^^^^ Yup, if the article had praised EG you can bet closg would never had posted it.

[closg00]

GRADE: B+

WASHINGTON WIZARDS Key additions: Bradley Beal (draft), Emeka Okafor (trade), Trevor Ariza (trade), Cartier Martin (re-sign), A.J. Price (FA)

Key subtractions: Andray Blatche, Rashard Lewis

The Wizards went all-in this summer with a mixture of moves that should propel them from the second-worst record in the NBA into the hunt for a playoff spot in the East.

Adding Nene at the trade deadline was the first major shift, but the addition of Okafor and Ariza solidifies their front line. They now have toughness, some athleticism and some real defensive punch. Throw in a little addition by subtraction via the Blatche's amnesty and the Wizards have quickly improved the culture of the team.

But the real story for the Wizards is Beal. Many scouts believed Beal was the second-best player in the draft -- a sweet-shooting 2 who resembles Eric Gordon. The Wizards desperately needed to pair John Wall with a shooter, and Beal looks like the perfect fit.

If Wall turns the corner this season in his development, the Wizards have put together a formidable starting five without dramatically sacrificing their young core. The moves they made take away any cap flexibility for the next two years, but by the time Okafor and Ariza come off the books, Wall and Beal should be in a position to lead this team.

http://m.espn.go.com/nba/story?storyId=8262146